Learning Support
Curriculum Vision
“We’re all different, but there’s something kind of fantastic about that, isn’t there?”
-Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr Fox-
The Learning Support curriculum is shaped by our belief that our students should be afforded formative social and learning experiences within a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment. Our students are supported in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve personal success in recognition and response to their individual needs.
Skills and knowledge
Our curriculum has been planned and sequenced to ensure progression and includes the implementation of social, communication, and life skills lessons to support the pupils’ EHCP outcomes in the four broad areas of need. It mirrors that taught in mainstream to ease the transition of our most able students into mainstream classes where appropriate, whilst also being accessible to our least able students.
Teaching is tailored to the needs and abilities of our pupils and delivered at a pace which allows all students to access learning opportunities. Intrinsic to all subject learning is the development of ‘soft skills’ though regular structured group and paired work which allow students the opportunity to develop communication skills alongside subject knowledge, to build resilience and tolerance, and to improve their ability to work as part of a team.
In KS4, students take part in lessons leading to appropriate accreditation in the core subjects up to Entry Level and to access a range of Learning Support options: Arts Award; cooking; ASDAN Life Skills Challenge, and the John Muir Award, although several of our students access a mix and match of mainstream and Learning Support options. The focus is on identifying and supporting future aspirations with particular attention to independent living, employability skills, and participation in the wider community- all of which help to develop a connection and a sense of belonging within the wider world.
We challenge all our students to achieve their academic potential while placing emphasis on the development of self-confidence, and the understanding and knowledge of how to be safe, successful, and happy in a rapidly changing world. Our programme of residentials contribute greatly to this aspiration.
Context
The Learning Support team encourage all our young people to immerse themselves in the full, diverse Chapel High School community in the five years that they are with us. We want them to leave us confident that their learning and experiences here prepare them for a safe and, ultimately, fulfilling life. Pupils are encouraged to get involved with fundraising events such as cake sales and the Teenage Cancer Trust sponsored walk. In addition to this, working on our allotment provides opportunities for pupils to engage with our beautiful surroundings. We want our pupils to have a strong sense of the local community they live in and arrange activities to promote this including, participation in local carol concerts and volunteering in the church community garden.
Parental involvement is encouraged and ensured with strong home-school links. We encourage student input into and involvement into meetings and the annual review process.
We are supported in our work by Local Authority specialist advice teams and external agencies.
Inclusion
All students with enhanced resource Education Health and Care Plans have the opportunity for full inclusion within the school. This could take a variety of routes.
All students attend mainstream tutor groups for registration, giving opportunities for social interaction with other students from years 7-11, attending with support if necessary. Some students are taught entirely in Learning Support classes, others may dip into parts of the curriculum in mainstream and some attend all classes in mainstream with some timetable adjustments. We take pride in our ability to be flexible, enabling students to achieve in the most suitable provision. Support is given where needed.
All students are included in whole school events, assemblies, curriculum and enrichment trips. All students have access to all areas of the school during break and lunch times, with support provided for those students who may be more vulnerable.
Our curriculum is currently being updated, it will be available here soon.
